Creating a fire evacuation plan is essential for every business. While the smoke and fire alarms will provide enough of a warning, it can be difficult to know exactly where to go. Setting up a route and running through it with your employees will produce an instant peace of mind and ensure an orderly exit. Here’s a closer look to help you determine where to start. 

How to Organize a Fire Evacuation Plan

1. Recognize the Risks

Understanding where a fire is most likely to break out will allow you to pinpoint the safest route out of the building. For example, the kitchen in a restaurant contains a variety of appliances that generate their own heat. If combustible substances were to come into contact, then it wouldn’t take long for the flames to appear. 

Office buildings are a little trickier in that they feature electronic devices all throughout the building. It might be that a wire is beginning to fray or you’re overloading a circuit. Either of these could produce a spark and catch on nearby surfaces. 

2. Find the Safest Route

The escape route should lead away from the source of the fire. This means that in a restaurant, the kitchen staff will exit toward the back and all the diners and servers simply file out the front door. Offices will require you to designate specific stairwells to different departments, depending on their proximity. Not only does it cut down on the time it takes to exit the building, but it also avoids an accidental traffic jam. 

3. Practice

You should appoint leaders for each group. They should be able to remain calm in order to direct their charges toward the closest exit. Help everyone become accustomed to the evacuation plan by holding regular practice sessions. 

Run through the basics and select a meeting area that’s a safe distance from the building. Additionally, set off the smoke and fire alarms every three to four months, without warning, to ensure that everyone knows exactly where to go. 

Get your building up-to-code with the help of Action Security & Communications in Rochester, NY. These professionals have more than 30 years of experience with security systems and offer only the best in smoke and fire alarm products. They work with both residential and commercial clients and commit to 24/7 monitoring. Call (800) 445-1410 to schedule an appointment or visit their website for additional information on their carbon monoxide detectors.